Page 110 - Hrobat Virloget, Katja, et al., eds. (2015). Stone narratives: heritage, mobility, performance. University of Primorska Press, Koper.
P. 110
stone narratives
Case presentation: Construction of Mural mosaic in Koper
The initial purpose of this project was to give to the city of Koper a new light, a new morning, a new hope. The mosaic
workshop and its installation were performed in June 2014. The result exceeded all expectations. Rotar (2014) reported
that this project represented a broader concept that embodies the idea of socializing, learning, coexistence and under-
standing of the environment and the city we live in, with all its features and natural resources. The mural mosaic combi-
nes the classical four elements: earth (γῆ), water (ὕδωρ), air (ἀήρ), and fire (πῦρ) in an early morning dance.
This relatively complex project consisted of five phases: (1) design of the detailed mosaic plan and materials selection;
three phases similarly as in Bordeaux case: (2) mindfulness exercises were performed, (3) presentation of techniques and
tools, (4) mosaic construction; special attention was also put to the phase (5), i.e., installation of the mosaic. The mosa-
ic was generally well accepted by the public (e.g., e-Koper, 2014; Rotar, 2014; Television Koper - Capodistria Slovene pro-
gramme, 2014), however, some discussions regarding the adequacy of installing amateur art work in public places arose
(Radio Koper, 2014). The volunteers who participated in these phases were satisfied with the results and identified them-
selves with the mosaic. They perceive it to be a part of the idea of co-creation of the environment. The results of the pro-
ject are presented on the right side of Figure 3. The mosaic is installed on a stairway above the passenger terminal of the
Port of Koper-Capodistria, Slovenia.
The role of mosaic in personal development, meditation and stress
management
The literature review shows no relevant studies about the role of mosaic construction in
personal development, meditation, and stress management. However, art making, in the
broadest sense of the word, is therapeutic in general (Kramer, 2000). It generates a feeling
of happiness, activates the individual (Rubin, 2005) and can lead to self-healing (Simon,
2005). Czsikszentmihaly (1996; 2006) talks about moments of flow and optimal human
experience while doing creative work, i.e., a special state in which disorder in consciousness
becomes ordered.
According to Langer (1962; from Kramer, 2000), the primary function of art is to ob-
jectify the experience in order to contemplate and understand it. Based on different studies
and theories, Kaplan (2000, p. 75) concludes that »participating in art and art-related ac-
tivities satisfies something deep within us«, facilitates perceptual discrimination, language
and self-esteem, assists in useful organization of thoughts and experiences, improves the
quality of life, produces psychological growth and makes life worth living (Kaplan, 2000).
Artists often report about a special beneficial state of mind during the creation pro-
cess. Czsikszentmihaly (1996; 2006) calls it flow and it consists of clarity of goals, know-
ing how well one is doing, balancing challenges and skills, merging of action and awareness,
avoiding distractions, forgetting self, time and surroundings, and an autotelic experience
(doing something just because of the feelings it provides). This description is close to the
definition of mindfulness practice (Kabat-Zinn, 2006) according to which being present in
the moment generates a feeling of acceptance. It is also similar to what neurofeedback prac-
titioners call a combination of a relaxed state and concentration when training peak-perfor-
mance (Gruzelier, Inoue, Smart, Steed & Steffert, 2010).
In the continuation of this subsection, three cases of mosaics construction for per-
sonal development and meditation are presented. In these mosaics, the author presents his
perspective of the world. His observations and experiences produce feelings and thoughts
that are organized in a unique way, which is expressed through his art. As stated by Pečjak
(2006), artists and scientists process the same material: the world. However, the artists ob-
serve and explore the world in a more subjective manner where their emotions, beliefs, val-
ues, and similar inner characteristics play a prominent role.
108
Case presentation: Construction of Mural mosaic in Koper
The initial purpose of this project was to give to the city of Koper a new light, a new morning, a new hope. The mosaic
workshop and its installation were performed in June 2014. The result exceeded all expectations. Rotar (2014) reported
that this project represented a broader concept that embodies the idea of socializing, learning, coexistence and under-
standing of the environment and the city we live in, with all its features and natural resources. The mural mosaic combi-
nes the classical four elements: earth (γῆ), water (ὕδωρ), air (ἀήρ), and fire (πῦρ) in an early morning dance.
This relatively complex project consisted of five phases: (1) design of the detailed mosaic plan and materials selection;
three phases similarly as in Bordeaux case: (2) mindfulness exercises were performed, (3) presentation of techniques and
tools, (4) mosaic construction; special attention was also put to the phase (5), i.e., installation of the mosaic. The mosa-
ic was generally well accepted by the public (e.g., e-Koper, 2014; Rotar, 2014; Television Koper - Capodistria Slovene pro-
gramme, 2014), however, some discussions regarding the adequacy of installing amateur art work in public places arose
(Radio Koper, 2014). The volunteers who participated in these phases were satisfied with the results and identified them-
selves with the mosaic. They perceive it to be a part of the idea of co-creation of the environment. The results of the pro-
ject are presented on the right side of Figure 3. The mosaic is installed on a stairway above the passenger terminal of the
Port of Koper-Capodistria, Slovenia.
The role of mosaic in personal development, meditation and stress
management
The literature review shows no relevant studies about the role of mosaic construction in
personal development, meditation, and stress management. However, art making, in the
broadest sense of the word, is therapeutic in general (Kramer, 2000). It generates a feeling
of happiness, activates the individual (Rubin, 2005) and can lead to self-healing (Simon,
2005). Czsikszentmihaly (1996; 2006) talks about moments of flow and optimal human
experience while doing creative work, i.e., a special state in which disorder in consciousness
becomes ordered.
According to Langer (1962; from Kramer, 2000), the primary function of art is to ob-
jectify the experience in order to contemplate and understand it. Based on different studies
and theories, Kaplan (2000, p. 75) concludes that »participating in art and art-related ac-
tivities satisfies something deep within us«, facilitates perceptual discrimination, language
and self-esteem, assists in useful organization of thoughts and experiences, improves the
quality of life, produces psychological growth and makes life worth living (Kaplan, 2000).
Artists often report about a special beneficial state of mind during the creation pro-
cess. Czsikszentmihaly (1996; 2006) calls it flow and it consists of clarity of goals, know-
ing how well one is doing, balancing challenges and skills, merging of action and awareness,
avoiding distractions, forgetting self, time and surroundings, and an autotelic experience
(doing something just because of the feelings it provides). This description is close to the
definition of mindfulness practice (Kabat-Zinn, 2006) according to which being present in
the moment generates a feeling of acceptance. It is also similar to what neurofeedback prac-
titioners call a combination of a relaxed state and concentration when training peak-perfor-
mance (Gruzelier, Inoue, Smart, Steed & Steffert, 2010).
In the continuation of this subsection, three cases of mosaics construction for per-
sonal development and meditation are presented. In these mosaics, the author presents his
perspective of the world. His observations and experiences produce feelings and thoughts
that are organized in a unique way, which is expressed through his art. As stated by Pečjak
(2006), artists and scientists process the same material: the world. However, the artists ob-
serve and explore the world in a more subjective manner where their emotions, beliefs, val-
ues, and similar inner characteristics play a prominent role.
108
